Circuit controller



Junrz5, 1929. B, F, wQQDlNG 1,718,724

C IRCUIT CONTROLLER Original Filed June 11, 1927 S11/vento@ i fw# Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES BENJAMIN F. WOODINGOF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

Application led June 1.1, 1927, Serial N0. 198,047.

The present invention relates to magnetically operated and controlled circuit controllers, and particularly to circuit controllers of this character that are adapted to be carried by a vehicle and operated inductively by a magnet located on the roadway, for the purpose of controlling the vehicle either by giving an alarm thereon or by initiating the operation of mechanism for stopping the vehicle or by doing both. The circuit cont-roller of the present invention may for example be used in the train controlling system shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 59,869, filed Oct. 1, 1925, or in the automobile controlling system disclosed in my cope-nding application Serial No. 72,772, filed Dec. 2, 1925. The circuit controller may be found useful in other relations and for other purposes, and it is intended in the present application to claim the controllerI per se without reference to any specific system or use to which it may be applied.

The specific nature of the invention and particular objects thereof will be described hereinafter and the novel features will be pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an application of the invention to automatic train control;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the circuit controller; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View.

Referring first to Figs. 2 and 3, the elements of the circuit controller are housed in an oblong box, designated generally by the reference character A. This box consists of an oblong rectangular body which may be formed of a single piece of nonemagnetic metal or of a suitable composition. The open ends of body 10 are closed by flanged caps 12 and 13, which are tightly secured on said ends so as to effect substantially hermetically sealed closures, these caps being also composed of non-magnetic material.

Supported centrally in the box is a bar 14 of wood or other suitable insulating material connected by brackets 15 to a wooden strip 16 which fits under the top of the box. A thin strip 17 of soft iron is screw clamped at its outer end between metal plates 18 and 19,

. plate 19 resting on bar 14 and plate 18 being Renewed May 21, 1929.

and 23, plate 22 being integral with a binding post 24 which extends through an insulating bushing in cap 13. These magnetic.

strips are supported medially on metal pieces 25 screwed to the top of bar 14, and the inner free ends of said strips slightly overlap. Attached to the upper face of strip 21 is a flexible piece of metal 26 which projects over the end portion of strip 17 and carries a button 27 of non-magnetic metal which normally engages a similar button 28 secured to strip 17.

Mounted in a central aperture in bar 14 is an electro-magnet 29 having a core which projects slightly above bar 14 under the end portion of strip 21. This electro-magnet has a lead 30 connected to binding post 31 mounted in an insulating bushing 32 in an aperture of cap 12, and the other lead 33 of the magnet is connected to a similar binding post 34 in cap 13.

A permanent bar magnet 35 rests on the bottom of box A and extends from end to end of the box. Flux from this permanent magnet passes longitudinally through the magvneticstrips 17 and 21 and normally holds the ends of these strips engaged, a thin insulating film or strip being interposed between the engaging surfaces.

Referring now to Fig. 1, which illustrates an application ofthe circuit controller above described to a train control system: Two circuit controllers A may be used mounted at convenient points under a locomotive or a tender, one controller being operative when the locomotive is going ahead and the other controller being operative when the locomotive is backing. As shown, the right hand controller A is operative and the left hand controller inoperative. The circuit of a suitable electro-magnetic valve 36 -is as follows: battery B, conductor 37, valve 36, conductors 38 and 39, binding post 20, magnetic strips 17 and 21, binding post 24, conductor 40, an insulated segment 41, a slotted arm 42 engaging said segment, and conductor 43 back to battery B. The electro-magnetic valve 36 is adapted to give an alarm or to apply the brakes, or both, when its circuit is interrupted. The slotted arm 42 is pivoted at 44, the center of the circle defined by segments 41, 45 and 46, and is connected by a link 47 to the reversing lever 48 of the locomotive. During normal running of the locomotive, lever 48 is in the position shown, and arm 42 engages segment 41, closing the circuit of valve 46 through the right hand controller A, this circuit being the one just traced. When the locomotive is reversed lever 48 is moved towards the left moving arm 42 fromV segment' Vtor 37., valve 36, conductors 38 and 49, the

magnetic strips 21 and 17 of the left hand lcontroller,'conductor 50, segment 45, arm 42 and conductor 43 back to battery. This last on the side of safety.

Q-circuit is closed before the circuit first traced is opened, so that there is no interruption in the eiiergization of valve 36 when the reversing lever 48 is operated. If the connecting link 47 between lever 48' and lever 42 should be broken, lever 42 would drop by gravity and engage the insulated segment 46, opening the circuit of valve 36, rendering Vthe failure 4Vhen the circuit controller is used in a train control system, the track system will .includevinduction means, such as permanent magnets located in the roadway, adapted to coact with the circuit controllers on the locomotive and to operate saidcircuit controllers under danger or caution conditions to interrupt the circuit of the train controlling Velectro-magneticV valve 36. Normally the soft'iron strips 17 and 21 have their ends held engaged bythe flux from the permanent magnet 35, but when the controllerV is carried over al magnet on the track the flux of which is opposed in direction to that ofthe controller magnet 35, thev action of the latter magnethis neutralized and strip 21 springs up out of engagement with spring 17, open ing the circuit of electro-magnetic valve 36. After the controller passes out of the inliukence ofthe magnet on the track, the end of strip 21 remains up out of engagement with strip 17, for although the permanent magnet 33E is strongenou'ghto hold these strips in Vengagement `when once they have been brought into engagement, it is not strong enough toI bring the strips into engagement from their open position. For reengaging the strips, therefore, after they have beenl opened,.I provide the resetting electro-magnet 29, `whichiii-ust be energized by a, manual operationfof the engineer or driver of the veliiclei'n order to reclose the circuit opened by tlie,.controller." In Fig. 1 the resetting circuit is from a'vbattery B", conductor 51, push button52, conductor 53, binding p0st'54 of the right hand controller, lead 33, the winding Vof magnetl 29, lead 30, binding post31, conductor 55, through similar elements of the-left hand controller, conductor 56, and push button 57. The'push buttons v52'and 57 may be located at points so as to require Vthe cooperation of two persons, for example,

the engineer `and Vthe conductor, in order to Vreset the controller.

The function of tlie'resilient strip 26 and the contact buttons 27 and 28 is to hold closed the circuit through the controller in spite of any slight momentary disengagements of the ends of strips 17 and 21, caused, for example, by jarring and jolting of the vehicle. For this purpose the strip 26 is constructed and biased so that it tends to hold engagement between buttons 27 and 28 during slight separations of the ends of strips 17 and 21, so that the circuit through the controller will not be opened intermittently because of slight separat-ions of the ends of the strips, but willl only be opened when the end of strip 21 moves up a substantial distance from the endvof strip 17 on the passage of the controller over an induction means in the roadway. The contact buttons27 and 28 are formed of some non-magnetic metal so that they will not tend to adhere magnetically.

For some uses it is desirable to have the circuit controller normally maintain closed` a circuit, as has been described, and also to close a circuit when this normally closed circuit is opened. For example, where the controller is used on an automobile to control the automobile when approaching grade ciossings or other intersections, it is desirable to have the controller maintain a closed contact'in the ignition circuit and to have. it

close an alarm circuit when the igiiitioncircuit is opened. I have therefore illustrated in Fig. 2 a contact 60 which is adapted to engage contact button 27 upon disengagement of strips 17 and 21 and buttons 27 and 28.

The circuit through contact 60 may include ,anl alarm whilethat through strips 17 and 21 1. A circuit controlling unit adapted toV be operated inductively, comprising two thin spring plates of magnetic material"mounted in alignment with their ends overlapping and tending to spring apart, and a magnet mount- 'e'din proximity to said plates so that t ie flux lthereof passes thru said' plates and. normally holds their ends engaged. K t 2. A circuit controlling unit comprising Vtwo thin spring plates. of magnetic ymaterial mounted in alignment with their ends over'- lapping and tending .to spring apart, and a permanent bar magnet mounted Vparallel to said plates operating normally to hold said ends engaged.

llt)

3. A circuit controlling unit'comprising a I box of nonniagnetic material, two thin plates of magnetic materialniounted in said box with their endsoverlapping and tending to spring apart, said Vplates form-iiig'part of an electric circuit, a magnet mounted in" proximity to said plates normally holding said ends engaged, the strength of said magnet being insu'llicient to bring said plates into engagement from their separated position, and means to move said plates into engagement from such position.

4. A circuit controlling unit adapted to be operated inductively, comprising a housing formed of non-magnetic material, two thin strips ot soft iron supported in said housing and having overlapping ends, one ot said strips being resilient and tendingl to spring away from the other strip, a permanent magnet in the housing mounted so that the flux therefrom flows through said strips and normally holds them engaged, said flux being insullicient to bring the strips into engagement from their separated position, and an electro-magnet in the housing adapted when energized to bring the strips into engagement.

5. A circuit controller comprising an elongatedv housing of non-magnetic material, a bar of insulating material supported in the housing, two thin strips ot' sott iron secured at their outer ends to the top of said bar. a binding postextending through each end olE the housing and connected to the respective strip, one of said strips being resilient and tending to spring away from the other strip, an electromagnet mounted in an aperture in said bar of insulating material and having a pole projecting under one of said strips, and a permanent bar magnet resting on the bottom of the housing.

6. In an automatic vehicle controlling system, a circuit controlling unit adapted to be mounted on a vehicle so as to be operated inductively by magnets in the roadway, comprising a box of non-magnetic material, two thin spring plates ot magnetic material mounted in said box with their ends overlapping, and a magnet mounted in proximity to said plates, the overlapping ends ot said plates tending to spring apart and said magnet operating normally to hold said ends engaged.

7 In an automatic vehicle controlling system, a circuit controlling unit comprising two thin spring plates ot magnetic material adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for coaction with magnets on the roadway, said plates having overlapping ends and one ot said plates being biased to move out of engagement With the other, and a permanent magnet mounted substantially parallel to said plates and operating normally to hold said plates engaged.

8. In an automatic vehicle controlling system, a circuit controlling unit comprising two thin plates of magnetic material adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for coaction with magnets on the roadway, said plates having overlapping ends and one of said plates being biased to move out of engagement with the other, a light exible strip secured to one of said plates and having its free end engaging the other plate, and a permanent. barmagnet mounted in proximity to said plates so that the flux thereot` operates normally to hold said plates engaged.

9. In an automatic vehicle controlling s tem, a circuit controlling unit comprising two thin plates of magnetic material ad apted to be mounted on a vehicle for coaction with magnets on the roadway, said plates having overla-pliiing ends and one plate being resilient and tending to more out ot engagement with the other, a light flexible strip pecured to one plate and having its 'tree end engaging a non-magnetic contact on the other plate, and a permanent bar magnet mounted parallel to said plates and operating normally to hold said plates engaged.

10. In an automatic vehicle controlling system, a circuit controller comprising two thin plates of magnetic material adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for coaction with magnets on the roadway, said plates having overlapping ends and one plate being resilient and tending to spring away -from the other plate, a permanent bar magnet mounted parallel to said plates and operating normally to hold said plates engaged but being inetlective to bring said. plates into engagement trom their sel'iarated positions. an electro-magnet adapted to bring said plates into engagement, and a circuit it'or said electromagnet comprising a plurality ot normally open manually operable contacts in series.

11. In an automatic train control system, a circuit controlling unit adapted to be secured. to a vehicle for coaction with track magnets, comprising a box ot non-magnetic material, two thin plates ot magnetic inaterial mounted in said box with their ends overlapping, and a magnet mounted over said plates, the overlapping ends ot said plates tending to spring apart and said magnet operating normally to hold said ends engaged.

12. In an automatic train control system. a circuit controlling unit comprising two thin plates of magnetic material adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for coaetion with track magnets, said plates having overlapping ends and one o'l said plates being biased to move out of engagement with the other, and a magnet mounted over said plates substantially parallel therewith and operating normally to hold said plates engaged.

13. In an automatic train control system, a circuit controlling unit comprising two thin plates of magnetic material adapted to be mounted on a vehicle 'for coaction with track magnets, said plat-cs having overlapping ends and. one of said plates being biased to move out ot engagement with the other, a light flexible strip secured to one ot said plates and having its tree end engaging the other plate, and a magnet mounted over said lll() tending to move out ot engagement with the other and having a large area whereby its movements are sluggish, a light flexible strip secured to one plate and having. its tree end engaging a` non-magnetic contact on the other plate, and a permanent magnet mounted over said plates substantially parallel therewith and operating normally to hold said plates engaged.

15. In an automatic train control system, a ciieuit controlling unit adapted to besecured to a vehicle for coaction with track magnets, comprising a box ot' non-magnetic material, two thin plates ot' magnetic material mounted in said box having overlapping ends, binding screws passing through the top of the box and engaging the other ends ot' said plates to clamp them against longitudinal displacement, and a permanent magnet mounted above vthe box substantially parallel to the plates, the overlapping ends of vsaid plates tending to spring apart and said magnet operating normally to hold said ends engaged.

16. In an automatic train 'control system, a circ-uit controlling unit adapted to be secured to a vehicle for coaction with track magnets, comprising a shallow oblong box of non-magnetic material, two thin plates vof magnetic material resting on the bottom of said box and loosely fitting the sides thereof, the inner ends ot said plates slightly overlapping, the overlapping ends ot said plates tending to spring apart, and a permanent magnet operating normally to hold said plates engaged. Y v

17. In an automatic train control system, a circuit controlling unitv adapted to `be secured to avehicle for coaction with track magnets, comprising a shallow oblong box ot non-magnetic material, two thin plates ot magnetic material resting on the bottom of said box and having their inner ends slightly overlapping, binding posts passing through the top ot the box engaging the outer ends ot' said pla-tes to cla-mp them against longitudinal displacement, a light tlexible strip secured to one of said plates and extending over the other plate and engaging therewith, the overlapping ends et' said plates tending to spring apart, and a permanent magnet mounted above said box operating normally to hold said plates engaged.

18. A circuit controlling unit adapted to be operated inductively, comprising two thin plates ot magnetic material mounted in alignment with their ends overlapping and biased to spring apart, and a magnet mounted in proximity to said plates normally holding said ends engaged.`V f

l9`. A circuit controlling unit Vcon'iprising two thin plates ot ymagnetic material mounted in alignment with their ends'overlapping and tending to spring apart, and a permanent magnet mounted parallel to said plates operating normally to hold said ends engaged.

20. A circuit conti'olling unit comprising a box of non-inagnetie material, two thin plates of magnetic material mounted in said box with their ends overlapping and tending to spring apart, said plates Vforming part of an electric circuit, and a magnet mounted over said plates normally holding said ends engaged. 1 A

2l. A circuit controlling unit comprising a box of non-magnetic material, two thin plates of magnetic material mounted in said box with their ends overlapping` and tending to spring apart, said plates forming part ot an electric circuit, and a permanent mag net mounted in proximity to said plates operating normally to hold said ends engaged. 1

In testimony whereotl I hereunto atiix my signature.

BENJAMIN F. IVOODING. 

